ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc supports the needs of sufferers of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and related illnesses. We do this by providing services and information to members.

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Ulysses Club donation

The Society's Treasurer Richard Cocker rode up from Adelaide today (24 November 2009) on his trusty steed (Yamaha XVS650 motor bike) to receive a $2,000 cheque from the Ulysses Club Inc Mallee Branch to help ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc.

For those who may not know here is a very brief history on the Ulysses Club Inc:

The Ulysses Club is a national social club for those over the age of 40 years, male or female who have an interest in friendship with other like minded people who own motorcycles and enjoy good company. (Originally it was for over-50's.)

An inaugural meeting in Sydney on 6 December 1983 where five people present approved a basic constitution and the Ulysses Club was duly formed. The name comes from a poem of the same title by Alfred Tennyson.

The club has grown to over 120 branches spread throughout Australia, and continues to grow. Those branches arrange rides and social functions for the club members in their location.

By joining the club, a member can choose to attend any branch, branch ride or function of their choice. As well, there are sister clubs in New Zealand and South Africa, and fledgling branches of the club in Canada, Germany, and hopefully in the near future the USA and UK. It also has a preferred charity – Ulysses Club Arthritis Research Fund (UCARF) – which it donates to on a regular basis.

The Mallee Branch of the Ulysses Club, which encompasses mainly the Riverland, lower Mallee and as far as Strathalbyn, hosted an annual South Australian event called the Odyssey on the October Long Weekend of 2009. The 16th Annual South Australia Odyssey was held in the Riverland town of Barmera. 350 people attended for the weekend, mainly coming from South Australia but people also came from other states.

Some camped on the oval at the Barmera Monash Football Club (where the event was based) and others stayed at the caravan park and motel, meals were all catered for by the Barmera Monash Football Club each night, and entertainment was provided by the Branch. During each day there were events organised that would cater for all tastes, including an organised tour of the Riverland on bikes, brand new bikes to test ride, a bus trip that toured the region's wineries, and a trip on a paddle steamer on the Murray River (yes, there is still water in the Murray).

People attending paid a registration fee that covered meals, entertainment, merchandise, tours etc. Once all expenses had been met after the event there was a surplus amount of $6,000, it was decided during the planning process to donate any surplus to charity.

There were three charities nominated who shared the $6,000 equally, they are the Riverland branch of Riding for the disabled, Cancer Council South Australia and ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc.

There are two CFS sufferers in the Mallee Branch who pushed very hard to get a donation for the SA Society. It is great to get a result like this, as ME/CFS is still not widely known and, if so, it is not really understood. The local Ulysses Branch has a little more knowledge than they did before the event, and that is a good thing.

Simon Jackson
ME/CFS Australia (SA) Inc member

The Society wishes to thank the Mallee Branch of the Ulysses Club as much as possible – and more! – for their efforts.